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Profile

Rachael Burford comes from a rugby family background and in April 2016 became the first female professional player on the RPA players’ board.

She first picked up a ball when she was just six years old and was in the same team as her mother, Renata, and sister, Louise, for a season at Medway RFC, where Rachael spent the first 10 years of her career.

A talented sevens player, Rachael took part in the 2009 and 2013 Sevens World Cups.

Chatham-born, Rachael also played in the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup, the 2010 tournament in England, started the 2014 final and became England’s Player of the Year.

She also featured in every match for the 2017 England Six Nations Grand Slam winning team and at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup as England reached the final.

Her influence on the game was recognised when she won the International Rugby Players' Association merit award alongside All Black legend Richie McCaw at the end of 2017.

The Harlequins Ladies centre has still found time to take a course in Counselling Studies at Medway College, having been educated at The Thomas Aveling School in Rochester.